Instructor demonstrates ILS approach to student inadvertently enters IMC while VFR.

Attributes
ACN	176280
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : apa
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 54 flight time total : 530 flight time type : 223
ASRS Report	176280
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Demonstration of ILS approach to student. No vision restrictors used by either pilot. The area south of the runway 35 ILS OM to apa (centennial) had high ceilings with broken conditions. Student was interested in how an ILS worked. In the process of set up, calling approach, setting radios, etc, flight into IMC conditions occurred. The cloud bases around the OM were variable. Almost the entire time visibility contact with the ground was maintained. Forward visibility was less then 8 mi. Descent prior to interception of G/south allowed for correction of the problem. No conflict with any other flts occurred. Poor judgement on my part as to the actual proximity to clouds. Proper action would be, in addition to descend into VMC, anticipate potential for flight into IMC and file IFR flight plan. Better still, return to airport in VFR conditions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR DEMONSTRATES ILS APCH TO STUDENT INADVERTENTLY ENTERS IMC WHILE VFR.

Narrative: DEMONSTRATION OF ILS APCH TO STUDENT. NO VISION RESTRICTORS USED BY EITHER PLT. THE AREA S OF THE RWY 35 ILS OM TO APA (CENTENNIAL) HAD HIGH CEILINGS WITH BROKEN CONDITIONS. STUDENT WAS INTERESTED IN HOW AN ILS WORKED. IN THE PROCESS OF SET UP, CALLING APCH, SETTING RADIOS, ETC, FLT INTO IMC CONDITIONS OCCURRED. THE CLOUD BASES AROUND THE OM WERE VARIABLE. ALMOST THE ENTIRE TIME VIS CONTACT WITH THE GND WAS MAINTAINED. FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS LESS THEN 8 MI. DSNT PRIOR TO INTERCEPTION OF G/S ALLOWED FOR CORRECTION OF THE PROB. NO CONFLICT WITH ANY OTHER FLTS OCCURRED. POOR JUDGEMENT ON MY PART AS TO THE ACTUAL PROX TO CLOUDS. PROPER ACTION WOULD BE, IN ADDITION TO DSND INTO VMC, ANTICIPATE POTENTIAL FOR FLT INTO IMC AND FILE IFR FLT PLAN. BETTER STILL, RETURN TO ARPT IN VFR CONDITIONS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.